The influence of the number of days between matches on neuromuscular, hormonal and perceptual responses in professional rugby league players

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Abstracts / Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 12 (2010) e1–e232

Aim: While the need for EBP is well recognized, in sports medicine, it is unclear what the “evidence base” actually constitutes. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the evidence base in sports medicine research by study design contents in three prominent sports medicine journals. Methods: An audit was made on three prominent, online, per reviewed sports medicine journals for the calendar years of 2003 and 2008 respectively (British Journal of Sport Medicine, American Journal of Sports Medicine, Science in Sports Medicine Journal). Data collected was in reference to study designs, specifically divided into systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials, experimental studies, case studies and expert opinions. Data was compared between journals so that current trends could be identified and discussed. Results: All three online journals increased number of issues published per year with a mean average of 70% increase in the number of quantitative research studies featured in these journals over the past five years. All journals increased their content of Systematic Reviews, two out of the three increased their randomised control trials, experimental study design content stayed relatively unchanged, and two journals reduced their case studies and expert opinion study designs. Conclusion: With the increase in research studies, as seen with all three online journals, trends are quickly emerging. Sport Medicine journals are moving towards higher levels of evidence content with a relative decrease in lower levels, such as case studies and expert opinions. This does support a paradigm shift from the traditional sports medicine model of decisions predominantly based on expert opinion and clinical experience. Now evidence based sports medicine is aiding in an increase in evidence based practice. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.104 104 The influence of the number of days between matches on neuromuscular, hormonal and perceptual responses in professional rugby league players A. Coutts 1,∗ , B. McLean 1,2 , V. Kelly 2 , S. Cormack 3 , M. McGuigan 4 1 School

of Leisure, Sport &Tourism, University of Technology, Sydney 2 South Sydney Rugby League, Erskineville 3 Essendon Football Club, Melbourne 4 Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Optimal recovery between matches is critically important in team sports. Indeed, altered neuromuscular performance, hormone levels and increased fatigue can manifest in under recovered team sport athletes. However, the recovery patterns in these variables in the days following professional rugby league matches is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of different between-match

training periods on neuromuscular, hormonal and perceptual measures in professional rugby league players. Following familiarisation, 12 professional rugby league players from the same team were assessed for changes in countermovement jump (CMJ) (force, power, flight time), perceptual responses (fatigue, well being and muscle soreness) and salivary hormone (testosterone (T) and cortisol(C)) levels during 5, 7 and 9 day periods between matches. Measures were taken 4 h prior to the initial match, and then at 1, 2,4, 6*, 7*, 8* and 9* days following (* depending on group). All training was prescribed by the coaches and monitored using the sessionRPE method. Lower daily training load was completed on the 5-day compared with the 7 and 9-day conditions (p < 0.05). Some CMJ variables (flight time and contraction time), perception of fatigue, well-being and muscle soreness were reduced in the 2 days following the match in each condition (p < 0.05). All CMJ variables returned to near baseline values following 4 days in each condition. Both CMJ maximum and relative power were lower in the 7 day condition when compared with the 9 day condition (p < 0.05). Fatigue levels were reduced at 48 h in the 7 and 9-day groups (p < 0.05) but had returned to baseline in the 5-day group. All perceptual measures returned to baseline levels prior to the following match in each condition and followed changes in training load. Salivary T and C did not change in response to the match. These results show that neuromuscular performance and perception of fatigue are reduced for at least 48 h following a rugby league match but these can be fully recovered within 4 days. CMJ variables involving flight time appear to be best for assessing acute fatigue caused by a match, and variables involving power may be useful in assessing accumulated fatigue. The perceptual measures were sensitive to both acute fatigue and accumulated fatigue. The salivary hormone analyses were of limited value for assessing recovery. These findings show that with correct training, it is possible to recover neuromuscular, perceptual and endocrine measures within 4 days after a rugby league match. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2009.10.105 105 The direct effect of cycling on neuromuscular control during running in lesser trained triathletes J. Bonacci 1,2,∗ , A. Vicenzino 1

Chapman 1,2,3 , P.

Blanch 2 , B.

1 University

of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Institute Of Sport, Canberra, Australia 3 McGill University, Montreal, Canada 2 Australian

Introduction: Triathlon success depends primarily on a triathlete’s ability to run after cycling. As neuromuscular control has been closely linked to run performance and injury, triathletes’ performance may relate closely to their ability to maintain neuromuscular control (muscle recruitment